Marta Kostyuk reaches French Open semifinal, vows to honor Ukraine amid war

Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk became the first player from her country to reach the Roland‑Garros singles semifinals, after a 6‑3, 2‑6, 6‑2 victory over compatriot Elina Svitolina in the quarter‑finals. She dedicated the win to the Ukrainian people, saying, “We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, and many people died. I want to give this match to the Ukrainian people and their resilience.” The match came amid fresh Russian missile and drone attacks that killed at least 18 civilians and wounded over 100 in Kyiv and other cities.

Kostyuk will face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, the eighth seed, in the semifinal. Andreeva advanced by defeating Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea 6‑0, 6‑3. Kostyuk, who has won the Rouen and Madrid titles this season, has led their head‑to‑head 2‑0 and has spoken openly about the war, refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents. The clash highlights the ongoing political tension that shadows the tournament, as both players navigate the competition while their nations remain at war.